the difficulty of passing stoney brook. It was at first purchased, or taken up by twenty two proprietors, who held unequal shares, as appears from the annexed table-(Appendix No. 7.) In 1667 the proprietors procured a survey and ascertained each his proportion of fence. It contained 214 acres, and being fenced in 1669, was improved a while as an outlet or common pasture, by the proprietors.At first it was called the new field; which became at length a common name for all that part of the town lying on the north of stoney brook.*

Newfield Pond.

FORMERLY there was a pond in Newfield, which covered 100 acres of land. It lay about 100 rods west of Stoney Brook and half a mile from its mouth. Mr. John Richardson, about 1700, drained it off in the following curious manner. The water in stoney brook being low by reason of a great drought, and hardly sufficient to carry the mills, standing at the mouth of this brook, it was proposed to open a communication with it from the pond. The bed of the brook was about 30 feet lower than the surface of the pond. A mound of running sand of 30 or 40 feet thick and from 15 to 20 feet high separated the waters of the pond from the meadow and brook below. Beginning at the side of the bank next to the brook, the workmen had proceeded in digging a canal two thirds of the way through the bank, when the great pressure of water from the pond burst the bank, covered a negro, who was the only person that happened to be in the canal at that time with

*Merrimack plain, so called, is the north western section of Newfield, and includes all the land north west of Deep Brook.

1681.-A fishing'wair' was erected on Merrimack river at the upper end of Newfield by the proprietors, who agreed to admit any inhabitant of the town to share in the fishing trade' on condition he would pay his share of the expence of erecting the works.

sand, many feet deep, and carried away with great violence such a quantity of sand as to form a considerable hillock, or island of sand in the midst of the meadow, which remains to this day. The pond was drained except about an acre, over which the water is very deep. The principal part of the land is now covered with a thrifty growth of wood. The banks of the pond are still visible on all sides.*

Second Saw Mill-1669.

THOUGH motives of common safety and defence,of society and mutual aid, would suggest the idea of a compact settlement; yet the ease and convenience of procuring fodder for their cattle,† and necessaries for themselves, induced them as the population increased, to forego the pleasure of personal safety, and the advantages of social intercourse and neigborhood and settle at a distance from one another on the margin of meadows and brooks, and on tracts of land the most easy of cultivation. Hence it became necessary for the accommodation of the north westerly part of the town to encourage the erection of another Saw Mill. To this end a parcel of land was granted to Thomas Hinchman, William Fletcher and Josiah Richardson in 1669, for their encouragement and assistance in building the second sawmill in town.

Town Records, Book 1, Page 40.

THIS tract of land lay at the north east corner of William Fletcher's farm, and so extending to the south east corner of the long Pond on the north side

*The Indian name of Newfield Pond, appears from some antient plots of land near this pond, taken by Mr. Danforth of Billerica to be Assanunnickcom-misick.

There be likewise in divers places great broad meadows, wherein grow neither shrub nor tree, but as much grass as may be thrown out with a scythe thick and long, Wood's His. N. England.

1

of Stoney Brook and so along by the pond to Solomon Keyse's meadow, and by the aforesaid meadow and Thomas Hinchman's meadow and upland, and from thence by a high way to Stoney Brook, and then partly by William Fletcher's meadow. Always premised and consented to, that there shall be allowed out of the said land such high ways, as are or may be convenient. In consideration of the aforesaid grant the said Thomas Hinchman, William Fletcher and Josiah Richardson do covenant and grant to the town of Chelmsford, that the Inhabitants thereof shall have their boards at four shillings per hundred and not exceeding that price, for any kind of pay that the inhabitants can make at price current between man and man in this town; and that any of the inhabitants of said town by giving timely notice to any of the owners, shall be supplied for their pay before others. And it is further agreed that the aforesaid owners of the mill shall have full liberty to take from the town common what timber they see meet to work in the mill.'

THE value of land at this time may be learn1669 ed from an order past in 1669, ept. 3. It was ordered by the town, that all those, who shall take up any accommodation in town shall pay for a ten acre lot 12-10, and in the same proportion for any lot greater or smaller, which shall be appropriated to the use of the town.

Previous to this, house-lots of ten,fifteen or twen ty acres were given to approved characters, on condition they builded and settled upon them, otherwise they were to return to the town. After this date no lands were given except to mechanics, or to encourage some useful art or trade.

1671.-Mrs. Anne, consort of the Rev. John Fiske, died March 21.

Death of Mr. Fiske.

THE death of the Rev. Mr. Fiske forms a memorable epoch in the history of the town, with which we shall conclude this section. Born in troublesome times, inured to hardships from his first entrance upon the active scenes of life, Mr. Fiske had endured in this place the heat and burden of the day, and enjoyed in the cool shades of evening the pleasing reflection, that he had not labored in vain, nor spent his strength for naught. He lived to see the wilderness blossom as the rose, and the desolate place filled with much people. His constitution, broken down by excessive labor and study, yielded at length to the force of various diseases which preyed upon it. His sepulchre is among us to this day, tho' I am sorry to say, without a name and without that decent attention, due to the ashes of a distinguished benefactor of mankind and faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

1678.-John Parker, son of Abraham,built a saw-mill on Beaver-brook, of which some remains are yet to be seen.

1717-A wall was built round the burying ground.

1670-An order was passed by the inhabitants in town meeting, that af ter this date there shall be no public meeting for the granting of land,but what is appointed on some lecture day before, and notice thereof given in public after lecture, any order to the contrary notwithstanding.

A road was also laid out from Newfield Gate towards Dea. Waldo's farm to Dunstable, 6 poles wide, according to town order.

SECTION II.

Mr. Clarke.

NOTHING can be more important to a new plantation than the settlement of a pious, enlightened minister; who shall guide and counsel their children; comfort them in their afflictions; dispense the blessings of the gospel, and teach the way to heaven.

The first settlers of this town, drinking deep of the benevolent and pious spirit of their ancestors, made the establishment of the gospel ministry their first and greatest concern, after they had marked out the boundaries of their habitation, and complied with the terms on which the retention and enjoyment of their grant depended. And how great must have been their zeal, to establish and maintain the institutions of religion in their penurious circumstances? How cheerfully and liberally they contributed to this great object, their public records

shew.

Having aided and comforted with exemplary 1677 kindness and patience their aged Pastor under the infirmities of declining life; and having also paid the last affectionate honors to his remains, their attention was immediately directed to the election and settlement of a successor. Under the su

perintending providence of God, they were soon directed to one in whom they were perfectly united, and for whose subsistence they made the following provisions.